STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford men's gymnastics looks to capture its sixth national championship in seven years this weekend, as it heads to Champaign, Ill., for the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships on April 17-18 at the State Farm Center.
The weekend begins on Friday with the qualification round, where the third-seeded Cardinal will compete in Session II against No. 2 Michigan, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Illinois, No. 10 Navy, and No. 11 Army at 5 p.m. PT.
The top three teams and the top three all-around competitors not on one of the qualifying teams from each qualifying session, plus the top three individuals on each event not already qualified on a team or as an all-around competitor, will advance to the championship finals. Individual and team champions will be determined during the NCAA Championship finals on Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. PT.
A win for the Cardinal on Saturday would give the program its 11th NCAA Championship in program history. Stanford's ten national titles (1992, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) ranks third in the NCAA behind Oklahoma and Penn State at 12.
Stanford enters the weekend in unfamiliar territory, traveling to Champaign with just four gymnasts who have previously competed at the NCAA Championships. What the Cardinal lack in experience, they make up for in accolades as those four has combined for seven individual titles and 13 All-America honors.
A six-time NCAA champion and 10-time All-American, Asher Hong heads into his final NCAA Championships with history within reach. The Tomball, Texas native sits one individual title shy of tying the NCAA record for most career titles, currently shared by Sam Mikulak (Michigan), Jim Hartung (Nebraska), and Joe Gillombardo (Illinois).
Nick Kuebler returns to the national stage for the first time since 2023, when he captured the NCAA title on floor exercise and added a fourth-place finish on still rings. Arun Chhetri earned a podium finish on still rings in 2024, while Marcus Kushner is a two-time national qualifier on pommel horse.
Notable Cardinal making their first career NCAA Tournament appearances include MPSF floor exercise champion Cooper Kim, along with U.S. Senior National Team members Jun Iwai and David Shamah.
The NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships will be streamed throughout the weekend on ESPN+, while Saturday's finals session will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Live stats will be available on StatBroadcast, while fans can follow along for live updates on Twitter/X at @StanfordMGym.
LAST TIME OUT » Stanford posted a season-best team score of 327.200 but fell short in its pursuit of a conference title, finishing second in the MPSF Championships on Saturday afternoon. Stanford earned a pair of individual conference champions in Asher Hong and Cooper Kim, as six different gymnasts finished on the podium following the meet. MPSF Specialist of the Year Nick Kuebler collected a pair of podium finishes on still rings and floor, while Jun Iwai (high bar), Reece Landsperger (still rings) and David Shamah (parallel bars) rounded out the conference medalists.
MPSF'S BEST » Two Cardinal earned annual conference awards after the 2026 regular season, as Asher Hong secured his third conference Gymnast of the Year award and Nick Kuebler earned Specialist of the Year honors. The MPSF Gymnast of the Year honor returns to The Farm for the eighth-straight season and the 12th time in the last 13 years. Hong (2023-24, 2026) remains among the seven recipients in program history, joining Taylor Burkhart (2025), Brody Malone (2019-22), Akash Modi (2014-17), Sho Nakamori (2009), and Dan Gill (2004). Kuebler, who leads the team with seven event titles, is the first MPSF Specialist of the Year in program history.
STANDOUT SENIOR NIGHT » No. 2 Stanford men's gymnastics closed out the regular season with a victory on Saturday night, scoring 322.700 to knock off No. 8 California and No. 13 Air Force. Jun Iwai highlighted the Cardinal with a pair of event titles on floor and high bar, while Asher Hong scored a 14.050 to win the still rings title on Senior Night. David Shamah claimed the parallel bars crown with a 14.300 score. Cooper Kim and Toma Murakawa were a part of a four-way tie for first on vault, each posting a 14.350 to share the event title. Kim also had a strong performance on the floor, tying for second with a 14.200.
NISSEN-EMERY NOD » Asher Hong was named one of six finalists for the Nissen-Emery award, as announced by the Collegiate Gymnastics Association (CGA). Hong was one of two gymnasts to be unanimously voted as a finalist, joining Fuzzy Benas (Oklahoma), Asher Cohen (Nebraska), Frederick Richard (Michigan), Parker Thackston (Ohio State), and Ignacio Yockers (Oklahoma) as nominees for the prestigious honor. The Cardinal boasts seven previous Nissen-Emery winners, including Colt Walker (2024), Brody Malone (2022), Akash Modi (2017), Eddie Penev (2013), Dan Gill (2004), Josh Stein (1995), and Steve Hug (1974). Hong is looking to become the sixth honoree under head coach Thom Glielmi, joining Walker, Malone, Modi, Penev, and Gill.
WORLD-CLASS NIGHT IN BURNHAM » Hosting an evening of world-class gymnastics inside Burnham Pavilion, No. 2 Stanford defeated No. 7 California 323.900-312.850 in the collegiate portion of the Stanford International Collegiate. Cooper Kim and Nick Kuebler led the field with a pair of event titles each, while Kiran Mandava and Arun Chhetri rounded out the event winners. Team USA featured plenty of Stanford representatives as well, as Asher Hong, David Shamah, and Jun Iwai competed alongside alums Taylor Burkhart and Riley Loos, while Marcus Pietarinen and Divier Ramos joined forces with Colt Walker and Khoi Young on the International All-Stars.
SIX CARDINAL EARN NATIONAL TEAM SPOTS » Eight Cardinal headed to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the annual Winter Cup, where six current and former Stanford gymnasts earned National Team spots following the competition. David Shamah highlighted the Cardinal contingent by winning the all-around bronze with a 79.608, posting the second-highest parallel bars score in the meet with a 14.808. Jun Iwai finished 7th in the all-around race with a 76.705, featuring a third-place vault (14.100) and fourth-place high bar routine (13.550). Stanford's National Team selections included Shamah, Taylor Burkhart, Asher Hong, Riley Loos, and Brody Malone, while Iwai was selected to the Senior National Team.
CARD COMPETES IN CANADA » No. 2 Stanford men's gymnastics produced a strong showing north of the border, competing head-to-head against Team Canada at the Elite Canada event. Jun Iwai led the way for Stanford with a 79.916 in the all-around race, which included a pair of career-high performances on floor exercise (14.350) and high bar (13.800). Nick Kuebler continued his impressive senior campaign by sticking a 14.200 routine on still rings, adding a 13.650 score on high bar. Asher Hong produced the Cardinal's best showing on parallel bars with a 14.250, following up his impressive season debut at the Stanford Open.
TOP SCORE IN THE NCAA » Hosting its first meet of the season inside Burnham Pavilion, the Cardinal posted the top score in the nation this season to win the Stanford Open. Stanford scored a 326.450, winning six of seven events in the meet. Asher Hong impressed with a pair of event victories on the night, including an 80.300 all-around effort and a 14.450 routine on still rings. Nick Kuebler won both the floor exercise and a share of the high bar title, alongside teammate Cooper Kim.
FIVE EVENT WINNERS » Stanford won five of seven events, finishing second at the Rocky Mountain Open with a score of 320.750. No. 2 Oklahoma won the meet with a 323.950 meet score, while the Cardinal finished ahead of No. 4 Nebraska (311.500) and No. 9 Air Force (302.100). David Shamah led the Cardinal with a pair of event victories, turning in a career-best 14.500 parallel bars routine to earn a share of the event title, while also pacing the field in the all-around race with a 79.700. Nick Kuebler (HB), Reece Landsperger (SR), and Wade Nelson (VT) rounded out the event winners for Stanford.
SEASON-OPENING VICTORY » Stanford claimed six event titles en route to a convincing 320.100-309.700 victory over No. 9 California in Friday's season-opening meet at Haas Pavilion. Nick Kuebler and David Shamah highlighted the Cardinal with a pair of event titles each, while Kiran Mandava and Wade Nelson earned victories on pommel horse and vault, respectively.
2025 REWIND » Stanford came up just short in its bid for a historic sixth consecutive national title last season, finishing the season as the national runner-up at the 2025 NCAA Championships. The Cardinal posted a season-best score of 332.061 to finish second at the NCAA Championships, finishing less than two-tenths behind Michigan, which claimed the national title with a 332.224. Asher Hong brought home individual NCAA titles on floor exercise and still rings, and was joined by Mark Berlaga, Jeremy Bischoff, Taylor Burkhart, Ian Lasic-Ellis, Colt Walker, and Khoi Young in earning a combined 11 All-America honors.
KEY RETURNERS » Stanford will have some new faces in the lineup in 2026, as the Cardinal returns just three of 11 gymnasts that competed at the NCAA Championships last season. Six-time NCAA champion Asher Hong highlights the key returners for Stanford, along with 2023 floor national champion Nick Kuebler, still rings All-American Arun Chhetri, and two-time NCAA team champion Marcus Kushner.
INCOMING CLASS » In addition to 14 total gymnasts returning from last season's runner-up team, Stanford welcomes another stellar freshman class to the squad this season. Bringing an abundance of national team and international experience, the newest class of Cardinal includes Jun Iwai, Joey Nieves, Divier Ramos-Delgado, Deano Roberts, and Michael Scheiner.